To all whom t may concern l Be it known that I, WILLIAM R. QLaYToN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Evanston, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented'certain new and useful Improvements in Methods of Preservation, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a method of desiccating organic bodies and has particular reference to the permanent preservation of human remains from decay which is incidental to` present forms .of burial.

Mold and putrefactivel ferrnents which. cause this decay can not exist in the absence of moisture and hence it follows that the removal of the moisture which forms a considerable' part of organic bodies will result in the permanent preservation of the body.

It is the object of my invention to provide an inexpensive and eilicient method of removingthe moisture from bodies and for permanently preserving them in an anhydrous condition, whereby decay is prevented and the sanitary conditions surrounding the burial places of the dead are greatlyV improved'.

A further object of my invention is the provision of a method of desiccating bodies in which the moisture removed is converted into a solid form in lcombination with the desiccating material,l thus insuring permanert dryness of the receptacle containing the bo y.

Otherobjects and advantages of my invention will be apparent as it is better understood by reference to thel following description when read in connection with the accompanying drawing in which- Figure 1 is a vertical section through a structure adapted for use in carrying out my 'method;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1', and

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1.

While the structure illustrated in the drawing is by no means essential to the method presently to be described it illus-v trates a form of receptacle which is well adapted to use inV connection with fthe method. A base 1 .is illustrated Which-forms a foundation for the structure and preferably extends to a point somewhat above the rade of the surrounding earth.; Upon the preferably of brick, although any suitable structural material which is permanent in nature may be employed. A cap 3, forming a roof, is disposed above the walls 2 and may be of concrete and provided with a waterproof covering 4. rIhe cap3 is supported during the course of erection by false work 5 which may remain permanently in position. The interior of the structure thus formed iskcoated with a layer k6 of waterproof cement and in the present instance the interior is divided into two chambers by a partition 7 also of waterproof cement. Within the separate chambers walls composed of hollow porous tiles 8 are erected adjacent the waterproof cement coating 6 and a layer of hard plaster 9 is applied to the walls of the chambers to provide a finish of pleasing appearance.

The openings in the hollow tiles 8 are illed with calcined gypsum 10, preferably freshly calcined, and false floors 11 are erected in the separate chambers, beneath which floors layers of freshly calcined gypsum 10 are disposed. The floors are constructed of Wood orother suitable material to provide ducts 12 and 13, which, through suitable openings 141 and 15 in the false iioors 11,

communicate with the interior'of the chambers. At the rear end of the structure vertical ducts 16 and 17 are formed in the end wall 2 connecting with the ducts 12 and 13, respectively," and extending downwardly into the base 1.

At the lower end of the duct 17 a heating flue 18 is provided in which a burner 19 is disposed and supplied with fuel from any suitable source, such for example as a gasolene tank 20, disposed in a pit 21. The flue 18 is open to the atmosphere so that the products of combustion may escape and air is supplied to the pit 21 and the burner 19 through an opening 22. A plate 23 prervents access of air from the pit 21 tothe ducts 16 andV 17 From the base of thefducts 16 and 17 a' pipe 24:, provided with a seal 25, leads to a drain 26 to care for any moisture Vor surplus gases which may accumulate in the ducts 16 and 17. Hand holes 30 are pro- Patented Jan. 1, i918.`

ganic bodies. Furthermore, this material has the advantagethat .the moisture is,A ab` sorbed and combines with the gypsum as Water of crystallization, in whichl form it is permanently retained. It will be understood, therefore,A that Where calcined gypsum placed in a sealed chamber with the body to be desiccated no moisture, as such, Will 4accumulate in the vchamberso longas the supply of gypsum is suiiicieiit to absorbI it.

In carrying out lmy method I place thebody,

vWhichis preferably embalmedLalthough this is notessential, inthe usual ycasket 27 having a false floor L28, the casket being, moreover, 'provided with openings 29 in its bottom so placed as toiregister with theY openings 1 1 and 15 in the false vfloors 11 of ay chamber similar to'A that' already described. The chamberis sealed andthe desficcatiiig action ofthe calcined gypsum, which has previously been disposedivithin the openings in the hollow porous tile forming the yivalls of the chamber andl beneath the 'falsemlioora commences at, once and continues, so long as moisture exists in the body, to Withdraw and combine with the moisture.l

VThe opera-tion may be hastened by circulation of the atmosphere Within the .chamber and v.this may be aecomplishedin .a variety of Ways,su c'h fonexample as the provision of the; heating flue 18 the vertical duct 1 7 Which vcauses v the gases 'to rise, pass throughthe duct 13 aii'l up'\ v ardly ,into the chamber and the casket, thence `through .the duct 12 and downwardly throughtheduot 16, after ivhich they again passoverthe flue 18. rThe heating of the atmosphere has an additional eifectin causing the atmosphere to become ca ableof carrinj. a Great 3ro# :5.13,... portion of moisture and servesto hasten the 'desiccation of the. body. Preferably the temperature of the atmosphere is'raised to apoint not above that of the blood of living bodies y l,

The value of the method may be vfurther enhanced. by aprimary desiccationbefore .the body is placed in the permanentfnrecepgtacle. The object of the primary de siccation isto remove a portionpfthe most easily, re-

.moved moisture and places the body in such condition that the sloiver 1 action Within the permanent receptacle Willresult in th'e most satisfactory preservation of thebody.t The primary desiccation may be carried out. in

any .suitable manner andinapparatus intendedspecifically forthat purpose, it being understood .that themoisture nearer the surface may beremoved Withconsiderable rapidity-and that .thwapidity 0f action may be further increased by the use of materials such asa strong sulfurieacid or calcium Vchlorid. as desiccating agents whichmaterialsfare not suitable for4` use in the perina- -nenti'eceptacle heretofore 'described, sulfuric acid because ofits strong corrosive nature rounding andcalcium chlorid because the moisture absorbed doesnot combine with the material as in the case of gypsum but serves to moisten thermass which finally dissolves in the moisture absorbed.

It will be understood from the'foregoing that I` have perfected a method of preserving organic bodies which is simple and inexpensive and ivhichivill preserve bodies from decay indefinitely. By the u seof method the liii'ih'ea'.lthful conditions surhe burial places of the `de`ad are lentirely eliminated.

It Will be obvious that various :changes i maybe inadein the form, constructionfand theatmosphere'betvveensaid bodies anticeleinedfgypsum..

sealed chamber, heating the atmosphre of said chamber, and .subjectingjsaid body throi1gli .tlie medium of the atmosphere surrounding.. it ,.ivithin; saidgchamberfto the ivhioh .eoniprises subjecting a body vto l'a vprimarra9.1.6510@aoil.tO.-.1@H1Qv anoniem f sturwdepoitne Seid b-@dif im@ Sebitine Said bjodyf through, the me'diiim of the atmosphere sun rounding the ody in said chamberto the desiccating action of calcined gypsum, and causing a circulation of said atmosphere between said body and calcined gypsum.

7. A method of desiccating bodies whichv comprises depositing a body in a sealed chamber, heating the atmosphere surrounding the body in said chamber, and subj ecting the body through the medium of said atmosphere to the action of the desiccating material.

8. A method of desiccating bodies which comprises subjecting a body to a primary desiccation to remove a portion of the moisture, depositing the body in a sealed chamber, heating the atmosphere surrounding the body in said chamber, and subjecting the body through the medium of said atmosphere tothe action of thel desiccating material.

9. A method of desiccating bodies which comprises subjecting .a body to a primary desiccation to remove a portion of the moisture, depositing the body in a sealed chamber, heating the atmosphere surrounding the body in said chamber, subjecting the body through the medium of said atmosphere to the action of a desiccating material, and causing a circulation of said `atmosphere between said body and desiccating material.

10. The method of desiccating bodies which comprises subjecting said bodies in a sealed chamber through the medium of the surrounding atmosphere to the action of a desiccating material and causing a circulation of the atmosphere between said bodies and dcsiccating material.

VILLIAM R. CLAYTON. Witnesses ERNEST H. MERCHANT, W. T. WESTERBERG.

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